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Reasons for a late period

If you have been expecting your regular monthly period but it is overdue there are a number of reasons why your menstrual cycle is running out of its normal routine. Here are 12 common reasons why, there are of course many other causes:-

Pregnancy, this may seem obvious, but it's still possible to get pregnant when you are not expecting to be, if you suspect this to be the case, then its easy enough to take a test, which are sold in most supermarkets.

Birth control, this are typically comprised of synthetic version of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, this will alter your body's levels of these hormones and can cause your period to be shifted, some birth control methods will also reduce or completely stop your periods, if you are unsure about this, then consult with your Doctor.

Menopause / peri-menopause, women are born with their eggs and over time this reserve gradually depletes, once there are no longer any viable eggs remaining she stops ovulating and this in turn brings an end to her menstrual cycle.

A mistake, another common issue, is that you have made a simple mistake and lost track of the regular date your period comes, periods are normally 28 days long, but they can vary unexpectedly.

Stress, if you suffer stress during the time of your ovulation, this can lead to a delay in the onset of your period, as your calendar will shift to keep in time with your ovulation.

Illness, in the same way as stress can delay ovulation, so can a spell of illness. Your period is normally due around 14 days after your ovulation, so if you were ill or under the weather around that time, it can be a reason for a later period.

Being Overweight - when you body becomes overweight your oestrogen levels also rise, this rise can lead to irregular periods

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is caused by excessive levels of male hormones, this leads to ovulation failure with a resulting impact on the menstrual cycle.

Thyroid disorder, whilst still somewhat unclear, it seems that hormonal changes associated with a thyroid disorder can also impact on ovulation with a resulting knock on effect to your period.

Change in schedule - a change to your normal routine, such as taking a holiday or a change in personal circumstances can lead to change.

Sport if you push your body to its limits for example by running in a marathon, then your body may stop menstruating as a way to conserve resources.

Change in medication can lead to changes in your body's normal routine, which leads to changes in the timing of ovulation.

The above are some of the typical reasons for a late period, if you have any concerns or suspect that you could be pregnant then of course consult your doctor as soon as possible, its much better to be cautious rather than miss a symptom of a more serious problem.

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